The Dirty Duck is named after a public house opposite the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford and was commissioned by cornet superstar Tom Hutchinson.

 

Composer Dan Price explains, "Tom was looking for a solo that was virtuosic in content with strong jazz influences and something of a crowd pleaser. The Dirty Duck was the end result. The piece sits firmly within the big band style, taking influence from the dance bands of the 1940s led by such greats as Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington and Count Basie."

 

The first performance of The Dirty Duck was given by Tom Hutchinson with the Cory Band conducted by David Childs on October 1st 2011 at Wiltshire Music Centre. The work's premiere recording features on the commercial disc, Cory In Concert Volume II, performed by Tom Hutchinson with the Cory Band conducted by Robert Childs.